Turbine blading



Patent'ed May 26, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,283,901 TURBINEBLADING Edwin E. Arnold, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor tog,

Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Comv pany, East Pittsburgh, `Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania i Application March 16, 1940, Serial No. 324,271

I 7 Claims. (Cl. 253-77) My invention relates to turbine bieding and stresses of higher deflection ratio without fait has for an object to provide a row of blades tigue. In addition to the low elastic strata funccomprising a circumferential series of groups tioning in this Way to enhance the durability wherein each group includes a plurality of blades of the bladlng, the brazing material functions'to brazed together to provide for increased strength exert a damping effect. Also, as the brazing and durability. material connects the blades of each group as a Y It has been found that turbine blades occaunitary structure, the natural frequency is .'inj l` y sionally fail on account of excessive stresses creased. which may be developed on account of impact Accordingly, a'further, object of the invention or vibration effects. In accordance with the 10 is to providearow of impulse blades comprispresent invention, instead of each blade of a ing a circumferential Lseries of y groups, each l row acting as an individual unit, the row is made group including a'. plurality of blades having up of a circumferential series of groups of blades, the shroud and root portions provided with adeach blade having integral shroud vand root porjacent faces bonded together by means of brazx tions and the adjacent shroud and root portions 16 ing. i of the blades of each group being brazed together. A further object of f the invention is to pro- Hence, the natural frequency is increased and vide an impulse blade .row comprising 'a cira larger root portion is effective to resist forcescumferential `series of blade groups, the blades applied to the mutually reenforced blade eleof each group being formed with shroud and., ments. The invention is particularly applicable 20. root portions having adjacent faces bonded tofor the initial row or rows of moving impulse gether by means ofy brazing,` the fiat faces and bladesof a turbine ofthe high-temperature and the brazing being arranged in a neutralv zone high-pressure type in that the composite blade or plane between the adjacent blade elements. groups effectively resist the relatively large im-L These and other objectsl are' effected by my( pact forces encountered and the increase in -freinvention as will be apparent from thefollowing V.imei-icy further safeguards against resonance description and claims taken in accordance with eiIects at normal operating speeds. the accompanying drawings, forming a part of Preferably the blades are connected together this application, in which: y in groups of two or more by copper or alloy braz- Fig. l is a fragmentary view showing a blade ing, which connects both the shroud and the root 3Q. row having my improved i blading; portions of the blades. Furthermore, as I prefer Fig. 2 is an isometric view showing one of the' to use blades having both root and shroud porblade groups; tions provided with similarly formed abutting Fig.k 3 is a *diagrammaticv view illustrative of faces. il? iS DOSSibIe t0 have Such relation 0f the -principles involved in the improved blading; and, root and shroud portions that the brazing of 3o Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 show modifications whereadjacent blades may be located 'in a neutral zene' in interlocking features are incorporated in the' or, in the case of flat faces, in a plane where brazed connections of the Shroud portiorm 1 bendmg Stresses are at a" mmmum' Inorder that the operative effect of the braz- Y I find that, where copper or a.. proper alloy in g of a blade group to reduce the outer fiber is used as the brazmg material not only may 4U stresses may be better understood, reference is the groups be subjected to heat treatment with- 4 out 'impairing the brazedV connections, but such mst made to Flg 3 Showmg a pau of, beam ele' connections serve their intended purposes uno ments- 'o and U connected by a layer '2 ,of der high temperature conditions of operationmaterial having an elastic modulus substantial- As the bonding layer of each blade group has 1y IESS than that 0f the elements l0 e and a modulus of elasticity approximately one-half Assuming that the COmDOSte Strllftll iS d@- of that of' the blades, when the blades of a flected from the full-line position to the'dashgroup are deeted Such material undergoes a y, pOStOI'l, Will be Obvious that the layer Of certain amount of shearing deformation with" material l2 Will undergo a. certain amount of the result that, for a given deflection, the outershearing deformation, points on the tension side most fiber stresses of the blades are reduced over of the beam element l0 and adjacent to the i, an integral twin blade construction, the effect layer I2 moving outwardly with respect to corof this being to reduce the maximum stressesresponding points on the compression side of of the. blading with the resuu; that the latter the beam lelement |I The shearing action to may endure an indefinite number of repeated which the intervening Vconnecting layer of ma,-

terial of lower modulus of elasticity is subjected therefore eiects a transference of stress, portions of the tension stress of the beam I and of the compression stress of the beam II being partiallyl neutralized by the shearing stress of the intervening layer |2, with the result that the outermost fiber stresses of the beams I0 and II will tend to balance the opposing fiber stresses and thereby eiiect reduction in such outermost fiber stresses. In other words, as compared to a structure where the beams II) and Il are independent and the intervening layer I2 is omitted, the beams being subjected to the same loading, the effect of such intervening bonding layer may be regarded as that of moving the neutral planes of individual beams inwardly so that, instead of the composite structure having a definite neutral plane, it has a neutral or modified stress zone. Thus, for the same deflection, the composite structure requires a greater force than does a pair of independent beams and less force than if the two beams were connected together as a. single homogeneous structure. 'The composite structure has the advantage, as compared to a structure consisting of two independent beams or a single equivalent beam, of involving lower maximum stresses for the same deflection, with the result that the structure has greater durability from the point of view of fatigue endurance. Also, the intervening material, due to its lower elastic modulus and consequent greater shear deformation,l is capable of functioning to absorb vibrational energy of the connected beam members, thus rendering the composite unit less susceptible to resonance 35.

build-up.

Coming now to the utilization of this principle of construction in turbine blades, in Fig. l, there is shown a row of blades I4 carried by a blade-carrying element, such as a rotor I5, each blade comprising an active blade portion I8, a root-portion I1 and a shroud portion I8. Instead of the blades Il being carried as individual blades, they are carried as groups I9, each group being comprised by a plurality of blades Il with the adjacent shroud and -root portions bonded together by layers 20 and 2I, respectively, of brazing material.

Copper, or a suitable non-ferrous alloy, is preferably used as the brazing material, not only for the reason that it has only about one-half the modulus of elasticity of steel, but it also per- The root and shroud portions'il and I8 are integral with the active blade portions I6 of the mades. The root and-shroud portions of each blade have parts extending circumferentially in opposite direction from the blade section; and, on this account, the brazed joints are removed or spaced from the blade sections by material of the root and shroud portions, with the result that the structure is stronger than-would be the case if such joints were aligned with or "conformed to the blade section boundaries. Furthermore, both the root portions of individual blades and the brazed-together root conmits of heat treatment of the groups without impairment and it is effective for the intended purposes under high-temperature conditions of operation.

The brazing material connects the blades of each group together as a single structure with the result that the natural frequency of vibration is raised and the blade roots are strengthened. Comparing a blade of a blade group to a single independent blade and regarding each to be deflected to the same extent, then it will be obvious that the stresses of' the root portion of the single blade will be substantially higher than that of the blade group because the area of the latter in stress is substantially larger.

Each blade group I9 is a composite structure including blade portions I6 and composite shroud and root elements integral therewith, the composite shroud element or structure including shroud portions I8 and the layer of brazing 20 joining the adjacent faces of such portions, and the composite root element likewise including the root portions I1 and the brazing 2i.

structions of individual blade groups may have end faces formed in planes-extending radially of the blade row, thereby facilitating the manufacture of the blades individually and as connected groups, the assembly ofthe groups with the blades of a row properly spaced and the provision of stronger and more rigid connections between the rotor and'the blades.

Regarding the composite shroud element of a blade group as a beam, then, if a blade thereof is deected due to an applied force, the shroud element would be deformed and deflected with a reverse bend. It is, therefore, desirable to locate the brazed joint 20 of the shroud element or structure of each group where the bending moment, and therefore the bending stress, is at a minimum, or zero. Accordingly, the adjacent faces of the shroud portions I8 and of the root portions I'I of each group are preferably.

arranged in axial planes of the turbine between adjacent active blade portions I6 with the adjacent faces of the shroud portions located at a region of the composite shroud where the bending moment is at a minimum.

Figs. 4 to 7, inclusive, show the shroud portions of the blades of groups joined to form arcuate shroud structures, the joints including brazing and interlocking connections to give added strength to the latter.

In Fig. 4, the shroud portions I8 having opposed adjacent faces joined by the brazing layer 20 are interlocked in an axial direction by a radial rib 22 formed on one shroud portion and cooperating with a groove 23 formed in the adjacent shroud portion; and, in Fig. 5, this effect is accomplished by the interiltting convex and concave faces 24 and 25 formed on `the shroud portions of the group.

The interlocking connections may be effective in a radial direction as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.-

In Fig. 6, the shroud portions I8 have opposed recesses 28 and a cooperating pin 21; and, in Fig. 7, the connection embodies a rib 28 formed on one shroud portion and cooperating with a groove 29 formed in the adjacent shroud portion.

In Figs. 4 to 7, inclusive, the brazing layer 20 conforms to the adjacent and opposed shroud portion faces and the interlocking features of the shroud portions, the interlocking features serving to reenforce or strengthen the brazing either axially or radially.

Several advantages follow from the use of the construction described. Irrespective of the type of blading, a stronger and more durable construction results on account of the increase in natural frequency and the large amount of root for each blade. The shroud of each group ties together adjacent blades thereof with' the result that the natural frequency is increased as compared to a similar single blade; and it is obvious that, if force is applied to a single blade portion, such force will be resisted by the composite root construction of the group. The advantages of having the blades arranged in groups are secured without involved or complicated manufacturing procedure in that each group is made up of individual blades produced in the conventional way, such individual blades being formed into unitary composite groups by brazing together the shroud and root portions of the blades of each group;V

and, since brazing is an essential step in the production procedure, the blade root and shroud portions of each blade are preferably so designed to avoid the imposition of bending moments 'onf the brazed connections of the composite shrouds of the groups, the shroud and root porvide annular structures between which the blade portions extendto dei-lne the blade passages; each impulse blades of a turbine operating under conditions of high temperature and pressure, the

group arrangement not only providing for ino crease in natural frequency and increased overall strength for a given loading, but the brazing facilitates manufacture Without imposing any limitations to proper heat treatment after brazing. Brazingchrome steel turbine blade material with copper, for instance, is 'effected at a temperature somewhat in excess of 2,100 F., and it has been found that groups vof blades so brazed may be subsequently heat treated at temperatures up to 1500 F. without impairment of the brazing and that such prepared blades may be operated in turbines using steam at temperatures somewhat in excess of 1000" F. without detriment to the structure.

While I have shown my invention in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled inthe art that it is not lso limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specificallfahsety forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an elastic-huid turbine supplied with elasticnuid at relatively high temperature and preure, a row of moving blades of an initial impulse stage and means for maintaining the stresses of said moving blades relatively low in relation to forces applied thereto and for increasing the natural blade frequency thereof, said means comprising the arrangement of said blades in a circumferential series of groups of blades, each blade having integral root and shroud portions arranged to provide opposed faces, and cuprous brazing material `joining the opposed faces of the root and shroud portions of the blades of each group.

2. 'I'he combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein each blade group `comprises a pair of blades and the brazing material is copper.

3. In a turbine, a moving row of impulse blades comprising a circumferential series of groups of blades and the blades including integral, arcuately-extending, shroud and root portions-having adjacent opposed faces so that such portions progroup of blades including a plurality of blades and brazing for connecting the latter together;`

saidbrazing joining the opposed faces of the shroud portions of each group so as to provide an integral arcuate shroud structure; and interlocking means for the shroud portions of each arcuate shroud structure,`v strengthening the brazed joints of the latter, and arranged so that the brazing separates the interlocking elements.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 3 wherein the interlocking means is effective in an axial direction.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 3 'wherein the'interlocking means is effective in a radial direction.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 3' wherein the interlocking elements have the joint of each arcuate shroud structure comprising a cooperatingkrib and groove formed on adjacent 

